Page 4033 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 24 October 1990
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them. It is an interesting idea indeed. Why should a person who is involved in business have an obligation to employ someone? It is done within a free enterprise system. Too much emphasis is placed on what are called rights when the emphasis should be placed on what are truly responsibilities and obligations.
When we look at criminals it is interesting to see whether they have any responsibility. A myth in society, which is perpetuated by certain television programs, is that there is honour among thieves. There is no honour among thieves. In this place we talk about the clear-up rate of crime. There is a decent clear-up rate because criminals rat on each other, for personal survival or monetary gain. They do not have responsibility.
Until we induce responsibility in our young people, we will not have the result of a society in which crime is prevented. In our education system, which is where it must start, where is the subject of responsibility taught? Where is the subject of integrity taught? How would a child understand the concepts of wholeness, supporting other people and working to gain a return, not that society owes them a living?
Mr Wood: It happens all the time; ask any teacher.
MR STEVENSON: It is all very well for Mr Wood to say, "It happens every time; ask any teacher". If we ask students, which I do, we find that they do not have a valid understanding of ethics and integrity. One of the other reasons for this is that in our society much attention is placed on politicians at all levels. Politicians would say to members of the community that we should accept responsibility, that we should reduce that and prevent crime, that we should not speed, et cetera. Do the words communicate to people? I would say that they do not.
I would say that politicians are vastly disliked not so much because of what they have said but much more because of what they have done. A politician would say to the community that it should accept various responsibilities, but when it comes to telling the truth all too often politicians do not set a good example. It is almost taken for granted that prior to every election politicians make promises that they will break very soon after. Again and again, politicians make the claim that they represent the people, yet when it comes to doing the will of the people most frequently they fail to follow that will. The schools debate in this Assembly is a perfect example.
With crime it is quite often the case that when people have an opportunity to break the law, particularly feeling that they will not be caught, they take that opportunity. I think it is fairly commonly accepted that when politicians have an opportunity to take advantage of their power they do so. They do not maintain the ethical standard and vote according to the majority expressed will of the people.
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